The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-08

An Appeal In Behalf OF Our schools.
La Sale county, lying as 1t does IN the
heart Of one Of the most fertile regions M.
tlres sun shines upon, and underlaid with
rich mineral wealth, and having these un-
told natural resources developed by an intel.
ligent and energetic people, takes just
pride in all her varied resources and insti,u
tions.
Not the last among these are her institu.
tions Of learning. Had the late Hon. VIM.
Redick been en- abed to carry out the desire
Of his heart to found college here, we
should then have had compile tie system OF
education within our borders sufficient TO
ii our young people to honor the highest
positions Of trust in the gift Of our great
common wealth or to grace any Of the pro.
LESSONS of life.
AS il is, we come but one step short Of it !;
only the top round in our educational ladder
is lacking, the remaining rounds being we'll
in place, of good workmanship and the best
material.
And while we pride ourselves upon our
schools, we, the people, should see to 1t that
nothing within our powers to do is left un
done to make and keep them the very best
possible Especially is this true when we
consider The fact that so large q percentage
Of our young people finish their education
in our district schools and the grades below
the high school
1t is probable we speak within bounds
when we say that not more than one in two
hundred who attend the lower grades ever
tlkes high school course and not more than
one in FIVE hundrsl ever takes q collegiate
course.
II it be true that such Q large percentage
Of our future men and women are receiving
In these humble buildings that dot our prai
ries, or the more pretentious ores of our
smaller towns, their preparations for citizen
ship and parentage and all their attendant
responsibilities, how important il is that we
supply them with all the practical helps
within our power, such as books Of refer
ence, apparatus, and also place before them
oil the proper and wholesome stimulus pos
sible.
1t is to this latter point that we wish es-
pecially to speak. Parents, as well rs teach
ers, know that child-natur, 10 delighted with
the promise Of some pecuniary reward fer
work well done. 1t may be but some sim
pie toy having in itself little or no intrinsic
value, yet what extraordinary efforts will be
put forth by little hands aid little minds 10
procure the coveted reward 1t is princi
pie rooted and grounded in our very nature,
aud imbibed with the very air We breathe;
and who will say that the extra efforts Of
mind and muscle brought out by such prom.
ised reward will not as certainly result in
the proper development Of mental and ply.
steal powers as if brought about only by the
constant pressure of the teachers restraint
mingled with the natural desire for know
ledger We think the contrary true, That
the increased activities will develop new
and greater possibilities, and urge on to new
requirements just as naturally a. one well.
fitting article of dress would create n desire
for a whole suit to match.
The thought in the mind Of the writer is
this: We have said by our votes who shall
superintend our educational Interests for
the next four years, and believe we have
chosen well. But we must remember that
IL impossible for one man to visit the four
hundred and more schools of this county,
even had he nothing else to do, with suf-
cient frequency to know positively of the
kind and amount Of work done in each, or
TO infuse the minds Of all the teachers, chill
dren and parents with his zeal and enthusi-
ssm. This true, could we not furnish our
public schools the needed stimulus, and the
superintendent the means Of knowing moro
accurately the character Of the work done,
~ well as give him the leverage by which he
can lift our teachers and schools TO higher
plane Of existence, were we TO induce our
Honorable Board Of Supervisors to make a
sufficient appropriation of public money to
offer to our schools, graded and ungrsded,
fair premiums for best exhibits, both of spe
eisl and general work done. as well as indi-
vidual awards for special work.
Then our superintendent should be given
ouarters in the court house, consisting Of
tvo good rooms, where the work esuld' be